IDEA World Fitness Convention™ – The World's Largest, Most Comprehensive and Longest-Running Event in our Industry

EXCITING NEWS—Mark Your Calendars!

The 26th annual IDEA World Fitness Convention™ will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California on August 4-8, 2010.
Join us and attendees from over 40 countries to get the most relevant and practical fitness knowledge from the largest fitness education provider.

Not on our mailing list? Click here to request a brochure mailed to you once it becomes available. Registration will be available starting March 2010.

Join us at L.A. LIVE — the event capitol of the world, spanning more than 6 city blocks. This one-of-a-kind entertainment campus has a variety of world-class sports and entertainment options, making it a popular attraction in Downtown Los Angeles and a short walk from the LA Convention Center.

Over 300 educational sessions taught by leading industry experts.

IDEA World Fitness Convention Opening Ceremonies will be held at the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE — which is also the site of the GRAMMYs, American Music Awards, the ESPYs and the EMMYs.

Enjoy popular restaurants, cafes, bowling lanes, music clubs, or check out the legendary Grammy museum.

The convention’s headquarter hotel will be the newly built JW Marriott, a luxury hotel located in the heart of L.A. LIVE.

All Sessions

326: BOSU® Athletic Balance

Using the BOSU Balance Trainer and BOSU Ballast® Ball, you will explore the theoretical and the mechanical foundations of dynamic integrated balance under changing conditions of instability and varied movement requirements. Innovative drills, technique cues and coaching commands are designed to help anyone move better by improving proprioception, stability, balance and muscular coordination.

327: Club Spotlight: Crunch® Presents FAME, The Class

Workout presented by: Crunch Faculty

Time Block J - Friday, 4:50-6:00pm

Inspired by the original film, globally-successful TV series, and now the new motion picture in theaters this September, here is your chance to be a part of Generation FAME! Like FAME, this class combines the unforgettable music, hard work, determination and foot-stomping dance of FAME, the pop culture phenomenon.

328: STOTT PILATES® Reformer for the Older Adult (Full)

This workshop will explore the benefits of working on the STOTT PILATES reformer for the older adult. Despite decrements associated with aging, the ability to adapt to endurance and strength training is well documented. Exercise modifications and considerations for limited mobility and strength issues will be discussed with a view to enhancing core stability, increasing lean muscle mass, increasing range of motion and improving body awareness.

329: The Integrated Reformer (Full)

How we move during the 165 hours per week that we are not exercising is more important than the 3 hours a week at the gym. We approach the reformer work from the standpoint of how it can be integrated into our daily activities, from standing to sitting at a desk, to moving through our daily tasks. Join us for this innovative, exploratory and informative program.

330: Peak Pilates®: MVe® Reformer Energize Workout (Full)

Become one with the reformer by transferring the energy from your body, mind and soul to the reformer. This workout will move you in and out of extraordinary shapes with a focus on deep-core strength and fluid movement. Experience how fabulous it feels to move from the inside out with a sense of ease. You will love how your body will lengthen as it tones up in a new way that can only be achieved through Pilates.

331: Major League Yoga (Full)

Many athletes, as well as weekend warriors, have found that extra edge over the competition through the power of yoga. From football to golf, professional sports teams and Olympic-bound athletes have found that a regular practice of yoga increases flexibility, reduces stress, improves concentration and gives an overall feeling of wellness. Increase your skills and marketability by tapping into this growing market.

332: Be a Fitness Video Star!

So you want to be a video fitness star? Everything you need to know about production from pre to post and marketing will be covered in this session. With over 50 consumer videos and 14 million sold, let Tamilee share how to make your production professional and a fun experience the first time.

333: Measure Service for Success

It's all about service delivery in the fitness business, but do we ever objectively measure it? In this session, you will learn and apply the five-step RATER Model that will help you develop long-term data and make smart staffing and programming decisions. It's time to make your service a long-term success.

334: Recovery: The Secret to Optimal Performance (Full)

Recovery is an important yet often overlooked training variable. How much recovery time do your clients actually need? This comprehensive research-based presentation will discuss the physiology of exercise recovery as it relates to improved fitness and performance.

Gone are the days when all you needed to market yourself online was a website. Now there are virtually dozens of free ways to educate fitness consumers and fish for new prospects on the Web. You can even use cyberspace to strengthen relationships with the clients you see every day. Learn practical ideas for how and why user-friendly, social-media tools like Facebook, YouTube, blogs, micro-blogs, podcasts, forums and social networks can help you move forward in the fitness industry.

Whether you’re an existing or new business owner or just beginning to plan your venture, this unique new all-day preconference program is a must for avoiding costly mistakes and building a distinct “fast-track” competitive edge in your market. Discover many of the secrets that most ﬁtness business owners miss, and ﬁnd out how to balance the personal and professional aspects of your life as your business grows. Get tips for your speciﬁc business from the most successful experts in the ﬁtness industry. You can’t afford to miss this in-depth business development workshop.

Welcome
8:30–8:40am

Fitness Business Basics8:45–10:15am
Derrick Wilburn, MBA
Many ﬁtness professionals ﬁnd out the hard way that there’s a lot more to starting a business than just running an ad in the local newspaper and raking in the clients. In addition, there is a vast difference between being an independent personal trainer and owning a business. This lecture examines some of the very basic, yet very critical—and often overlooked—elements that go into opening and running a successful enterprise.

Universal Keys to Business Success10:20–11:50am
Nicki Anderson
As ﬁtness business owners, we all can agree that you need a good menu of services to draw and retain clients and members. While many ﬁtness facilities offer this, what will set you apart from your competitors is amazing customer service. This lecture will provide many keys to unlocking your business potential through customer service.

Lunch11:50am–12:35pm
Lunch will be provided.

Avoiding Legal Pitfalls: Growing Your Business and Reducing Liability Exposure12:45–1:55pm
Tricia Schafer, JD
Learn to spot the small problems before they become major liability risks. Whether you’re an independent trainer, employee, or manager of a large facility, this overview of legal issues affecting the ﬁtness industry will heighten your awareness and sharpen your risk-management skills so you can spend more time working with clients and growing your business, and less time putting out ﬁres.

High Returns in a Low Economy— Marketing Strategies That Work!2:00–3:10pm
Nicki Anderson
Now, more than ever, tighter budgets and lighter wallets
have forced us to be creative when it comes to marketing our
businesses. This session will offer some great, no-cost/low-cost
universal marketing ideas so you can keep your name in front
of potential customers.

Generating Clients/Customers Through Business Networking and Referrals3:15–4:25pm
Derrick Wilburn, MBA
This session will explore, and hopefully get you comfortable with, the art of networking. You will be introduced to a variety of tools and techniques that demonstrate how to use individual styles to communicate, how to put people at ease and how to promote your business. Also, learn why referrals are the best form of business generation and walk away with four tactics to get referrals TODAY!

Growing Your Business in Spite of a Challenging Economy4:30–5:30pm
Todd Durkin, MA
Yes! You can grow your business and increase proﬁts in a depressed economy! In this enlightening session, you will get tips on how to improve your internal systems to increase efﬁciency, organization and proﬁtability; create a competitive advantage and raving fans for life; and produce extraordinary results through effective time management. You will also walk away with “out of the box” strategies to create both active and passive income and ideas on how to foster a business culture that attracts clients. You won’t want to miss this practical AND inspirational presentation that is sure to re-energize you and provide you with countless ways to accelerate your business results.

The most successful clubs and programs are those that successfully manage the total member experience by providing exemplary training and service. In order to do this well, it makes sense that the group exercise and personal training communities must work together. This preconference session offers real information and strategies for creating and nurturing
synergistic relationships between these two crucial segments within our industry. We will discuss proven ways to get whole departments to work together; the importance of cross- training our teams and developing universal skill sets; the dollars and cents of ﬁtness and how it relates to running a proﬁtable enterprise; and how to inspire excellence so your members have no other choice but to stay with you and sing your praises!

Welcome8:30–8:40am

Managing the Member/Client Experience8:45–10:00am
Bob Esquerre, MA
What happens to our clubs, to our students, to our clients and to our professional careers if we successfully manage the member experience? We can “recession proof” the ﬁtness industry! Our clubs will make at least an additional $97.9 million per year; as ﬁtness professionals, we will make at least an additional $12.7 million per year; and our members/clients will get better results! Join Bob as he sets the business tone for 2009 and beyond!

Fostering Cooperation and Synergy Among the Whole Team10:10–11:25am
Sherri McMillan, MSc
It may be surprising to learn that most personal trainers don’t like the other trainers they work with. And often there’s a “disconnect” between the group exercise team and the training team. As your ﬁtness staff grows, egos begin to clash and personality conﬂicts surface. Managers are left with high staff turnover and other human resource nightmares,leaving us drained with little to no energy left to work on enhancing and developing a department. This session will guide you through the leadership skills that need to be developed to get each individual on your team performing at their best while ensuring ultimate cooperation. Walk away with fun team-building drills and rewards that empower, connect and inspire your team toward a common vision.

Hybrid Trainers—The Wave of the Future11:35am–12:45pm
PJ O’Clair
What happens when you combine the skill set of a group exercise instructor with the skill set of a personal trainer or private Pilates instructor? What you have is the new “hybrid” ﬁtness professional who will make more money for themselves and the clubs, help retain members, and provide more results-based programming options for consumers. To date, the hybrid professional has never truly been identiﬁed, embraced, or even recognized as a true commodity in the marketplace today. This session will identify the skill set necessary to cultivate this new hybrid professional in your facility.

Lunch 12:45–1:30pm
(Lunch will be provided)

Solving Problems and Sharing Solutions (Facilitated Roundtable Discussions)
1:30–2:50pm
Focus on Fitness Management Team
As ﬁtness managers, we all encounter many of the same challenges. Wouldn’t it be nice to share those challenges in a nonthreatening environment and affect real change? This special segment of the Focus on Fitness Management preconference session will give you the opportunity to dissect the many issues that most managers face, discuss possible solutions to those problems and walk away with a clearer vision of how to troubleshoot and problem solve on your own.

The Real Bottom Line: Understanding Profit3:00–4:15pm
Darren Jacobson
As personal trainer and group exercise managers, do we fully understand the role and responsibility of our departments and the real impact they can have in our facilities? This session will look at global business models relating to personal training, and incentive structures for retaining trainers. We will also discuss the infrastructure that exists in many group exercise department models and ways to turn your department into a highly-driven, customer-focused potential proﬁt center.

Cream Rises: Promoting Excellence Among Instructors and Trainers4:25–5:25pm
Lawrence Biscontini, MA
Great managers know how to empower their teams to achieve maximum results. This enlightening session will explore the many techniques you can use with your staff to take them from good to great! In addition, you will get tips on how you can help them sharpen their technical skills, be respected ﬁtness ambassadors in the community, attract media attention for your club, and most importantly, encourage their professional growth.

Closing5:25–5:30pm

Lunch is included in the registration fee.
A Certificate of Completion will be provided.

Join us for IDEA’s first-ever nutrition preconference session. We have assembled three topics that have been in the headlines over the last year. Come get the latest information on eating green for better health (and a better environment), the lowdown on sugar and sugar substitutes and the research on vitamin D and its far-reaching affects.

Eating Green9:00–9:55am
Jenna Bell-Wilson, PhD, RD
Eating “green” has become synonymous with sustainability, locally grown and a more conscientious way of planning your meals. We will discuss this “slow food” movement, its characteristics and how you can healthfully, conveniently and easily incorporate this green trend into your daily living.

Sugar Sabotage!10:00–10:50am
Scott Josephson, MS, RD
Sugar or artificial sweetener! What should you use? This session will discuss several sources of sugar, including sucrose, fructose, sugar alcohols, artificial sweeteners (like Splenda® and Equal®), high fructose corn syrups, honey and others. Walk away with a better understanding of the composition of sugars and sweeteners, how they are metabolized, acceptable daily intake and their effects on appetite, weight loss, fat storage and stability.

Vitamin D: Expose Yourself to the Benefits11:00–11:50am
Shawn Dolan, PhD, RD
It is well know that vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, plays an important physiological role in bone health. However, the latest research uncovers other vital functions of vitamin D, particularly related to chronic disease prevention. This lecture will teach you about the role vitamin D plays in osteoporosis and beyond by exploring links to hypertension, diabetes and cancer. You can’t afford not to soak up your D!

013: Schwinn® Cycling: Indoor Cycling Instructor Training Course

This information-packed day offers you the industry’s finest and most comprehensive indoor cycling instructor training, giving you everything you need to become the best instructor you can be. Bike fit, cycling physiology and mechanics, proper technique, the Schwinn Cycling Coaching Pyramid, and class design are thoroughly explained and experienced in an interactive format taught by Schwinn program creator Jay Blahnik and lead master trainer Julz Arney. Each attendee will receive a detailed resource manual, a certificate of course completion, a FREE Power Music®/Schwinn Cycling PowerMix music CD, energy snacks and coffee to keep you going, and two power-packed workouts along with detailed notes so you can teach them to your own classes right away.

Serious athletes—whether professional or amateur—benefit greatly from performance enhancement training. This high-caliber workout is designed for instructors and trainers working with very fit and accomplished athletes. Using the STOTT PILATES V2 Max, an all-in-one machine that combines the functionality of the professional reformer with the key features and benefits of the Cadillac, experience the virtually endless programming options this piece of equipment allows. Always initiating from the core, you’ll learn how this complete-body workout retrains muscles that may have become unbalanced and you’ll be able to take your clients to a new level of strength and agility.

A Certificate of Completion will be provided.

By John Garey, MS

015: Just 2 Dance Instructor Training

This top-notch dance instructor training program is sure to get you on your way to becoming the newest, hottest teacher in your club or studio. Whatever your purpose or skill set, MaDonna will help you see your potential in this genre of fitness.

This training program is for instructors who…

Would like to simply freshen up an already established class,

Want to learn a different style of dance in order to attract a new clientele,

Want to get the latest club moves, or

Want to learn how to teach Latin and hip-hop, but don’t know how to get started.

Together we’ll cover every aspect of teaching Latin and hip-hop classes, including music, counting, cuing, step breakdowns, warm-ups, cool-downs and even tips on wardrobe! You’ll learn how to engage all members of your class (beginners and pros) and how to keep them coming back for more!

A Certificate of Completion will be provided.

Special note: Those who register for this preconference session are automatically enrolled in the master class, offered as preconference session #018, at no extra fee.

By Madonna Grimes, MA

016: New Science of the Human Body: The MELT Living-Body Model™

Do your clients have chronic tension or pain? Do you have pain? A recent survey of personal trainers and group exercise instructors found that over 88% experience chronic pain. In fact, 80% of all orthopedic injuries are sports or exercise induced. Although the fitness model has evolved by adding mind-body concepts and functional exercises, injuries are occurring at an alarming rate. Neurofascial science must be added to current fitness practices to reverse this trend. New research has revealed the root cause of pain in active people—dehydrated connective tissue that leads to an unresponsive NeuroCore™ system. These issues cannot be resolved with current exercise protocols, yoga or Pilates techniques. Even in the field of manual therapy, only a few techniques directly treat the neurofascial system.

This 6-hour program will reveal revolutionary neurofascial science regarding connective tissue, pelvic stability and the NeuroCore system. Presenter Sue Hitzmann has integrated and simplified this new science and created an applicable model for the fitness-to-wellness industry: the MELT Living-Body Model. Participants will:

Gain a scientific understanding of new research of the human body regarding pelvic stability and mobility, the role of the diaphragm, tensional relationships and connective tissue, and how the neurofascial core system works to maintain postural integrity.

Explore the MELT Living-Body Model as a foundation for assessing whole-body imbalance and misalignment to aid in program design of any modality.

Apply cutting-edge science to the current musculoskeletal models to improve your ability to work with a broader variety of clientele.

Learn the MELT Hand and Foot Treatment and how to use these neurofascial techniques to improve overall body connection, alignment and flexibility for one-on-one clients.

This interactive workshop explores the advantage of variable angles of resistance to facilitate and expand the existing STOTT PILATES intermediate reformer repertoire. Designed for participants already familiar with performing and teaching these exercises, this workshop will delve into the possibilities afforded by the V2 Max Plus Reformer’s adjustable pulley system and extensor straps. Discover how to challenge core strength and stability while achieving increased range of motion in exercise modifications and new variations designed to develop balance, proprioceptively stimulate the neuromuscular system, and provide support. Emphasis will be on the goals of the exercises, biomechanics and alignment, as well as cuing and correcting for safety and effectiveness.

Thursday

191: Nia® Barefoot Cardio Arts

The body, movement, personal training and teaching group exercise is all about the art of fusion. Each represents the blending together of energies. Nia fuses the wisdom of the martial arts, incorporating physical, mindful and meditative techniques, tools for conditioning and self-discovery with dance to encourage self-expression, spontaneity, grace and fluidity, with the healing arts, integrative body therapies that provide self-healing and re-alignment tools. The result is a highly-adaptable, fit and healthy body, mind and spirit.

192: Personalized Aquatic Group Training

Attract more members to your aquatic fitness programs using personalized group training. Learn why this semi-private approach to fitness training is ideal for hospital-based wellness centers, fitness clubs and community aquatic facilities. We will provide the framework necessary to establish, implement and market small-group training for any niche market.

193: Implementing Mind-Body Into Your Personal Training Practice

As fitness in the new millennium has evolved, so, too, has the job description of the personal trainer. We'll examine the full mind-body-spirit approach to personal training and see how "softer" forms of fitness incorporated into your existing and personal training regime can help you target the client's entire health profile (mind and spirit as well as body) and also increase your success.

194: Popular Diets: Promises and Pitfalls (Full)

Lecture

The media loves best-selling books about fad diets and weight control! Can they really help us get healthier, lose weight and improve athletic performance? Find out in this in-depth look at the practicality, sustainability and reality of today's most popular diets, including the South Beach Diet®, the Atkins™ Diet, the Zone™, Sugar Busters! and others.

195: Programming for Success and Profitability

Group exercise program directors! Discover how you can increase participant retention, referrals and the bottom line with examples of five great fee-based programs and five non-fee-based programs. Decide how and when it is appropriate to offer each, all while achieving fiscal goals. In addition, get tips on how your staff can increase the value of each member's experience so both members and staff are happy! Stay competitive in these incredibly challenging times!

196: Schwinn® Cycling: More Music Magic

Music matters! And this updated workshop offers top tips for using music to the max. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at how smart instructors choose and use music to create rides that are motivating and inspiring! Purchasing music online, playing amateur DJ with editing software, and using your iPod as the ultimate coaching tool will be discussed, but above all, come ready to experience the power of music as a motivator in one unstoppable ride!

197: Mix It Up! (Indoor Cycling)

Music is a key component to your indoor cycling experience and these days there are countless avenues to get new music to incorporate into your workouts. However, it is also very easy to become complacent and simply use the same genre and style of music. This session will discuss various styles of music, where to find them and how to incorporate them into your sessions to give you and your clients a jolt of something different.

Friday

333: Measure Service for Success

It's all about service delivery in the fitness business, but do we ever objectively measure it? In this session, you will learn and apply the five-step RATER Model that will help you develop long-term data and make smart staffing and programming decisions. It's time to make your service a long-term success.

334: Recovery: The Secret to Optimal Performance (Full)

Recovery is an important yet often overlooked training variable. How much recovery time do your clients actually need? This comprehensive research-based presentation will discuss the physiology of exercise recovery as it relates to improved fitness and performance.

Gone are the days when all you needed to market yourself online was a website. Now there are virtually dozens of free ways to educate fitness consumers and fish for new prospects on the Web. You can even use cyberspace to strengthen relationships with the clients you see every day. Learn practical ideas for how and why user-friendly, social-media tools like Facebook, YouTube, blogs, micro-blogs, podcasts, forums and social networks can help you move forward in the fitness industry.

336: Schwinn® Cycling: My Favorite Ride! (Full)

Chosen just for this event by your Schwinn master trainer, come experience a complete ride sure to give you plenty of ideas for your classes and one heck of a workout! You might do a race day simulation, or you might do short sets of powerful hills and flats. You might even do team challenges that give you a chance to compete with the other riders in the room. Whatever happens, you can expect world-class coaching, motivation and high energy.

337: Keiser® Cycling: Stretch and Extend

After a long ride, many cyclists feel the effects of being in a hunched and shortened body position. In this workshop, you and your cycling students will learn and benefit from multisegmental stretches that are inspired by yoga. This workshop will teach you how to maximize the often short but important post-cardio stretch and show you how to safely and effectively incorporate the indoor cycle into your stretching routine.

338: Aqua Dance II (Full)

Experience music, rhythm and dance from around the world. Add a new dimension to fluid fitness! This workshop will blend the power and passion of dance with the revitalizing elements of aquatic fitness. This integrative program will teach you how to combine movements from these techniques and transform them into a powerful and flowing aquatic workout destined to improve your cardiovascular endurance, concentration, awareness and focus.

505: 10 Great Programs That Increase Profit and Retention

This session is for program managers, directors and business owners. Discover how you can differentiate your enterprise from similar businesses/programs in your area. Get tips on how to spice up your existing programs and fire up your members (and staff) by launching new ones. You will walk away from this session with 10 programs that you can implement right away.

506: Schwinn® Cycling for Yogis

Yoga offers cyclists the perfect cross-training tool: a powerful blend of focus, flexibility and strength to increase range of motion and reduce fatigue. Cycling instructors who practice or teach yoga will get tips on how to blend these formats in the cycling studio. A tiered approach to the yoga section provides a thoughtful approach to the cycling portion and allows for a truly integrated yoga-cycling experience.

507: Keiser® Cycling: TechnoRide

Technology is a big part of our lives these days, and it certainly has a big presence in fitness. In this session, you will learn how to use Keiser M3's onboard computer to objectively monitor heart rate, time, distance, gear and power output. See how you can manipulate these vital components to create rides that focus on maximum fitness gains and increase motivation.

508: Gentle Aqua for Rheumatoid Conditions (Full)

Pilates and yoga-inspired movement is easy to teach and extremely effective for individuals with arthritis and fibromyalgia in water fitness classes. Replace the rebound and the splash with full range of motion, and neutral and grounded movement.

510: Culture Shock Master Class

Fun presented by: Culture Shock

Saturday, 6:45-7:45pm

Learn the latest hip-hop moves in this interactive session. There will be a donation of $10 to participate in this master class; proceeds will go to Culture Shock, a non-profit organization.By Culture Shock

Sunday

640: Double the Power: Pilates Precision and Yoga Flow (Full)

Workshop

Combine the mind-body-spirit disciplines of yoga and Pilates and get the benefits of two workouts in one! Stretch from strength and flowing movement out of static, isometric postures. Link the philosophies of movement of two disciplines to create a focused, challenging, mindful workout that will be sure to leave your students strong, centered and stretched to their limit.

641: Current Concepts in Post-Op Care: Lumbar Spine

This discussion will update fitness professionals on post-operative care for specific lumbar spine conditions. Participants will gain insight on how to safely progress their clients based on the body's own healing process. Techniques such as abdominal core and functional training will be discussed. This discussion is for fitness professionals who desire an in-depth understanding of advanced exercise prescription for the post-operative client.

642: Going Veg

Lecture

There has been a recent surge in people turning to a vegetarian diet, for both ethical and health reasons. Though this type of diet is ideally optimal in terms of nutrition, it can also fall short of certain nutrients if not approached methodically. This session will delineate how to assure a complete vegetarian diet and describe effective ways to counsel your clients to go "veg" or stay "veg" the right way.

643: Chasing Pheidippides: Marathon Training 101

From the time the ancient Greek runner Pheidippides ran from Sparta to Marathon to announce the Greeks' victory in the Battle of Marathon, humans have had a compelling interest in endurance running. With over 300 marathons in the U.S. each year, and a few hundred thousand people running them, it is likely that one of your clients is interested in running a marathon. This presentation will walk you through the process of preparing your clients for a marathon, including tapering and delaying fatigue during the race.

644: Small-Group Training: A Win-Win!

Lecture

Maximize your hourly earning potential, professional exposure and referral streams while saving your clients money. Get tools for creating and running a successful group by finding a target market, offering a quality fitness program, and marketing and advertising in your club or community.